Conference turris::womannotes-v3

    I love Nathaniel.  Really.  He's got such *spirit*.  But I don't always
    trust he'll be healthy, especially since his mechanical gremlinitis hit
    in November and December of last year.  But I can't *imagine* getting
    rid of him.  But I *will* have to someday, won't I?
    
    *sigh*
    
    This is what happens to people who are allergic to furry pets.  They
    fall in love with their vehicles.
    
    -Jody
    

What's your ideal car?

Mine:

Reasonably speaking (ie: something I actually plan to own one day) -

    Toyota Celica or Mazda Miata (I have always wanted a convertible.)


When my ship comes in -

    Jaguar XJS

Total dream-car -

    Lamborghinni Countach

D!

Jody, some of us who have furry pets fall in love with our cars, too.

I remember Rikki (short for Rikki Tikki Tavi, so named because compared to
the Subaru I learned to drive on and the other cars I had driven to that
point, Rikki handled like the mongoose in the cartoon: quick, turns on a 
dime, light and cute, too) - a '76 Honda Civic hatchback, in the days
when Civics were smaller than VW bugs.  It was totally stripped down, no
ameneties whatsoever, a gift from my father for my graduation ('85).
It had more shakes and rattles and whistles and whines, but with over 90K
miles never had a mechanical problem (except intermittent electrical 
problems.)

I loved that thing to death.

I owned him for one year before I totaled him (and almost myself) hitting
a wet spot at 85 mph on I-84 in Union, Connecticut.  I still get moist-eyed
when I pass that spot when I drive down to CT or NYC.

My new car is quiet, smooth, has lots of bells and whistles and it is great
but it has no *personality*.  I don't love it and it doesn't even have a name.

*sniff*

D!

    D! ruins a perfectly good rathole... oh well :-)
    
    I sometimes wish I could afford several vehicles, to please my
    several selves. I'd have a big 4WD pickup truck for long trips
    with lots of gear, a small Jeep set up for poking down old dirt
    roads in the boonies, a midsize car for commuting, (like my old
    '75 Malibu, plush interior, AC and power to spare,) and one very
    fast (!!!) sports car, for those times when I want to push the 
    limits.
    
    Unfortunately, budget allows me one smallish pickup with 96000
    miles on it. (And no four-wheel-drive, waauugghh!)
    
    Dana

If it were possible, I'd have only one car, after my current one.

That's right.  One car for the rest of my life.  (And given the current
state of technology, that's NOT a wish I want granted, thank you!)  This
car would be self-maintaining, self-repairing if necessary, and 100%
reliable.  It would look like a Mazda RX7, drive like a Mercedes, and have
excellent head and leg room for 4, or enough room for 2 people plus all
their ski equipment.  It would get excellent gas mileage, be cheap
to purchase, own, and insure, and have 4-wheel-drive capability.

I hate shopping for cars and am not looking forward to replacing my current
one.  It's such an exercise in compromises.

    Sharon

    re.5 Cheyenne, if you're ever in Springfield (Mass.) stop in 
    and say hi! and then you can visit the Indian Museum down
    the road a piece. (Our hockey team is still called the Springfield
    Indians.)
    
    re .6 Yeah, them danged compromises. Since I can't have 
    everything I have to try and get as many features as possible
    in one buggy. So, my next wheels will be a small-medium pickup 
    with extended cab, nice interior, big engine, great tires,
    _loud_ stereo ;-) 4-wheel-drive, and 5-speed. Sort of a go-anywhere
    carry-anything sports-car boonie machine.
    
    Now I gotta decide between Nissan and Dodge and...
    
    Dana

    First car was Sam (after Sam Adams), a VW bug.  Ah freedom!
    Sold him to a guy in Minneapolis whose kids renamed him Herbie.
    
    Second car is Joe (after Joe Coffey), a 1982 Toyota Tercel
    (yeah, I go for the cheap ones).  Over 200K miles together and
    still going strong (or as strong as any little 4-cylinder car
    can go). 
    
    Wish car?  A Cobra.  A *red* Cobra.
    
    Fantasy car?  A red Cobra that's like Sharon's (.6) as far as
    self-maintenance, reliability, and gas mileage.
    
    Next car?  Who can think that far ahead?  8*)
    
    nla
      

    I wish Dodge still made good, solid DARTS.  We had one (well many, they
    fed each other after their ultimate demises) - but the one I loved was
    Dartagnon (yes, a musketeer).  He was THE coolest.  Had lots of spunk. 
    I had driving access to a car before Nathanial (a Subablue, which is to
    say, a blue Subaru) but I didn't really love it.  
    
    I think I like the look of many of the sportier Scirocco's - not sure
    how I feel about the new Carottos (Carotta's? Caroda's? what are they
    called?) that VW makes. 
    
    My next car is sure to be a Honda Civic.  Not sure what specific ilk or
    color yet.  
    
    I love the look of DeLorean's, but I hear they aren't very good cars to
    own.  
    
    My sister just got her first car, and it's named Samuel.  My parents
    have owned a long line of cars, my mother always named
    hers....she/we've had:
    Pywackett
    Grundune
    Miss Mouse (little gray VW)
    Dartagnon
    D'artemis
    Greenpeace (big green whale of a Buick)
    Brown Betty
    Sappho
    Dastardly Custard
    
    
    so we're weird.  But hey, if you LOVE your car, won't it be INSPIRED to
    run better and last longer?
    
    -Jody
    

    My ideal car will be what Sharon described in .6, plus it doesn't need
    fuel to run.
    
    Eugene

My sister named her 1978 (1979?) olds station wagon "Phillip".

    Interestingly enough, my ex-husband's family's cars were always named
    Esmerelda (sp??). 
    
    I'm still driving my first car...an 84 Mazda GLC.  (Before that I drove
    the folks car, and then the husband's.  It took a divorce for me to get
    a car.)  I have lots of dreams of buying a fun car, but the $$ and
    toting stuff to the dump (er...recycling center) side of me wins out.
    
    Right now I'm trying to decide between getting a new car or driving
    this one into the ground.  Right now the ground is winning...
    
    judy

>In '82 I bought Rozinante,

 Is that anything like the ship Roncinante? ;^)

 I loved my '85 Mustang GT. A high output V8 and rear wheel drive- a complete
blast to drive, even if it did tempt one to be naughty CONSTANTLY. Only
one ticket the whole time I owned her, though. I traded her at 70k for my 
current '89 Probe GT. Front wheel drive and a 4 cyl with a turbo and 
intercooler, but it goes pretty good, gets better gas mileage and has ABS 
brakes. Not to mention it's easier to drive in the snow...

 I also happen to love mom's Lexus LS400 that I convinced her to test drive.
She loves it too. Dad feels almost cheated in his Lincoln Continental. :-)

 If I could have the fleet of cars I wanted it'd include a Lexus LS400 for
family events, etc. A 4WD beast for taking me to the remote mountain ponds
where the trout are fat and happy and fond of my feathered creations. I'd
absolutely demand a really hot sports car. The Acura NS-X is quite high on
my list, but I'd settle for a Misubishi 3000GT. ;^) Of course, the Corvette
ZR-1 would be a cool car to play with, and there are any number of high end
Ferraris and Porsches that would really take me to the limit. :-)

 My real dream car would be obscenely fast and have frighteningly precise 
handling. Sometimes I think I would be better offer driving a Formula 1
racer...

 the Doctah

    My first car was an '85 Dodge Aries (my Mom bought it for me).  It was used
    but only had 21,000 miles on it.  I got it up to 30K before the
    bi-monthly repairs started.  Repairs like the exhaust pipes rotting and
    taking the starter with them, blown head gasket, new brakes, clogged
    heating system, broken windshield wiper motor, plus other maintenance
    stuff like batteries, headlights, mufflers, tires......and TONS of gas,
    seeing as it got about 21 MPG.
    
    Finally dumped it at 60K when the wheel bearings went.  Got my Civic,
    35-40+ MPG, no problems.
    
    I will NEVER buy another Chrysler, no matter what Lee says.
    
    Lisa

    
    
    i don't think i can ever remember not owning my volkswagon scirrocco!
    it's and `83, and PAID for. (-:
    
    as much as i would like to own a new car, the one i have right ow is
    such a good little car, i can't justify the extra $300+ a month
    payments for something i would "prefer".
    
    ~robin
    
    

    I refer to my car, a black subaru, as my "dykemobile". She just turned
    7 and has about 96XXX miles on her. Great car, no rust, runs good, the
    radio still works well and she's got bucket seats that recline all the
    way back (OK, no mention about what that's good for ;-)) Just gotta get
    rid of her before the exhaust system rusts out again. Exhaust systems
    on Subarus cost megabugs! 
    
    My ideal car...
    
    I kind of like the little cars that the Jetsons fly  around in. I mean
    you don't have to stay on the road, you can just go all over space.
    Great for exploring and you can make your own path!
    
    Laurie

    
    re .2   dream car.....
    
    
    a VW "bug" convertible, Fire Engine Red, White rag top, Interior redone
    in plaid seats, with a heater that works.
    
    =jamd

    Black BMW 325e - won't go any faster than 135 mph, 'cause I'm chicken.
    I love this car. I hate people who buy fast cars then load them up with
    a lot of junk and never drive them. This is a touring car - I put 20k
    miles on it a year with driving to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, and San Diego.
    Used to be (before kid) that Janice and I would drive the 600+ miles to
    San Diego for the pure pleasure of it.
    
    The only person who has ever fallen asleep coming back from Yosemite
    with me driving that car is a friend of mine who rock climbs for fun
    and drives cabs in Boston for a living.
    
    Other car - Subaru Legacy 4wd station wagon. The "kid car". Makes a
    great ski car too...
    
    I love both my cars!
    
    	-- Charles

    	My first car was a '75 ('78?) Red Ford Granada.  Dad bought it
    for me in about '85 from a friend of his, who had already
    affectionately named it "Baby".  It came complete with mascot -
    this little dog-like thing that sat on the dashboard (it was
    pretty small, actually).  I actually grew to love Baby - she was a
    great college car.  But she started having her problems after a
    year or so, and dear Dad had another friend with a '76 Vega he
    wanted to get rid of.  

    	So...on to this car which I didn't even bother naming.  Ugh -
    I really HATED that car (but it was transportation, so I couldn't
    really complain).  There were so many times I thought I'd have to
    get out and push the car to make it go!  There's this hill on
    Route 2 that's a key test for my cars now...in the Vega, I could
    have the gas pedal to the floor and barely hit 30mph!

    	When I graduated, it was time for a real car - one that would
    be good for commuting 80 miles a day (that's what I would be doing 
    at the time).  Well, I really had my heart set on a Toyota (Celica 
    or Corolla Hatchback) but found that 1) I couldn't *really* afford 
    one and 2) they were kinda hard to find at the time I was looking.  
    So I did the next best thing - bought a half-Toyota! :^)  I got a 
    Nova, which in three months will be all paid off!!  This car has
    been very good to me - other than routine maintenance and one 
    accident (in which I got hit), there really haven't been any 
    problems.  My dad affectionately refers to her as Nelly Nova (this 
    from the guy who drove Ollie Oldsmobile for a while! :^) ).

    	I'll probably keep her for at least a year after she's paid
    off, but I really want something sportier now!  Don't really know
    what though.  I'm not sure I like the new Toyota Celica look 
    anymore.  The Miata is gorgeous but outta my range!  I'd love a 
    convertible, but around here, I don't think it's too practical.  
    I know, the heck with being practical - go for fun! :^)

    	amy

>I hate people who buy fast cars then load them up with
>    a lot of junk and never drive them. This is a touring car - I put 20k
>    miles on it a year
    
    I hate people who buy fast and fancy cars and never drive them.
    
    D! who puts 25-30K on her car just commuting to work and going to
    Boston 3 or 4 times a week

    phlbtttt...
    
    	-- Charles

    
    I love my car.
    She is an indulgence, and a luxury, and she's known as the Scarlet
    Lady to my friends....a scarlet G-reg Toyota Celica 2.0 GTE (I think).
    I never was interested in cars per se, but I just love the feeling of
    driving her - an early spring morning, windows down, a chill in the
    air, loud music......
    
    Recently I thought that I might lose her (rumour of change in the
    car scheme ) - I took a whole reel of photos to remember her by.
    Luckily, it *was* a rumour and she's still with me.
    
    'gail
    

    My trusty little red Festiva is a great sport.  She's endured the
    humiliation of popsicle drippings, garage entrance scrapings, canary
    yellow paint spills and muddy feet on the dashboard with true grace
    and dignity.  She ALWAYS starts, except for the time she was two
    months old and her battery died, and I insisted on a new one installed
    free of charge.  She represents my first successful attempt at
    independence; I researched consumer reports and haggled ferociously 
    with the dealership to get the price I wanted, with the warranty I
    wanted.  I test drove a pretty blue one from the lot, then spotting
    her in the showroom, I pointed and said "I want THAT one."  To the 
    chagrin of the manager, I would not purchase her until they cleared
    the way from the showroom and let me drive HER. She's a gem.
    
    Wow, I never thought I felt emotional about a car, really!  Thanks 
    for the topic
    
    Kim

    Well, right now I have 4 vehicles ... three with 4 wheels and 1 with
    two wheels.  The two wheeler ('85 Kawasaki 454) is for sale.  I had my
    fun with motorcycles, and have moved on to roadsters.  
    
    For practicality I have an Astro minivan ... carries my drums, moves
    things, and tows my travel trailer.
    
    For eccentricity and winter driving I have my 1971 SAAB 96.   
    
    For fun I have a 1968 Triumph TR250 roadster.
    
    Jo-Ann

    
    Why do some people think that married women with kid(s) should drive
    station wagons? I have been day dreaming about a new car (I really
    need one, got 120k miles on my current one!). People keep asking
    if I am getting a stationwagon or a minivan. Now, I don't mind
    if that's my third car, but it isn't fair if my husband has the
    Toyota Supra 99% of the time and I end up driving a boat (I can't
    afford a Volvo turbo wagon). Are women supposed to be slow drivers?
    I mean, when my kid(s) are grown (not have to pay daycare or college)
    I'd love to get a Jaguar XJS or a Ferrari. In 20 some years, if you
    see some old lady in a nice sport car, wave!!! 
    
    
    Eva  

    
    	Let's see, my first car was an '82 Chevy Cavalier Type 10
    	that I bought from my dad.  I had the worst luck with that 
    	car.  Flat tires, losing gears, more replaced parts....sold
    	it to my brother and he totalled it 6 months later (with brand
    	new tires!)
    
    	After that I bought an '84 Chrysler Laser Turbo.  Loved that 
    	car.  Wasn't crazy about the color (brown) but had much better
    	luck with her than with the other thing.  And how I *loved*
    	the turbo.  Had it for almost two years but got the itch (like
    	my dad) for something different.  On the day I was to go looking
    	her clutch went.  Driving it to the dealership for trade in was
    	not fun.
    
    	Now I have an '87 Toyota 4x4.  Runs great and haven't had any
    	major problems.  Had to have the exhaust replaced three weeks
    	after buying it but the dealership gave me a 'break'.  (how
    	nice of them, I was still peeved)  She has a few bangs in her
    	and is starting to rust in a few places but I think I'll
    	probably keep her till she's paid off.  (another 2 1/2 years)
    
    	I never really named any of my cars.  My mom always calls hers
    	Jezebel.  And she refuses to drive/buy anything but a Chevy
    	Caprice Classic.  Drove the first one into the ground and 
    	bought another one.
    
    	My dream car?  '64-'68  black Mustang convertible.  white interior
    	and hot pink pinstriping.....sigh......
    
    	JJ
    

    re .27 Corollary - when I see a woman driving a minivan or station
    wagon I automatically assume she's married with children (at
    least 3.) If I see a woman driving a 4x4 I assume she's either
    married or living with someone (no kids) and it's _his_ truck.

    
    	re: .29
    
    	Exactly why I want to get a vanity plate (the ones you can
    	buy in the store) that says "Hers, Not His" or "No, this is
    	NOT my husband's truck"  =)
    
    	JJ
    

    But Dana, my 4x4 cost less than a station wagon would have ;-) and it's
    all mine (and the bank's).  Seats five and plenty of cargo space for
    all the outdoor gear we want to take and the dog.  But, maybe this is a
    Colorado anomoly.
    
    In the but there's still hope type of way,  The last time I went to
    gas up my trooper, there were four other 4x4's of varying varieties, 
    all being filled and driven by women.  The dealer who sold me my
    monster told me about half of the 4x4's he sells are to women.
    
    Meg  

    My first car was a (ery) used blue '58 Chevy.  We called her Bertha the 
    tank.  My father used to get season passes to the drive-ins that would
    admit a car-full for $1.  A whole bunch of us would pop pop-corn, bring
    our own sodas and go the dirve-in every time the movie change for only
    pennies a head.
    
    My first new car was a yellow '67 Mustang convertable - a small 8 with
    no extras.  It was a very dependable car.
    
    In '70 I traded up to a '70 red Mustang conbertable with ALL the
    extras.  The biggest 8 you could fit under the hood of a Mustang - 
    Hirst speed shifter - close ratio stearing - etc. etc.... A/C
    stereo tape deck.  It went faster in reverse than most car went in
    forward.  Kept it for 5 years - but after I had it a few years an
    air-head swerved onto the wrong side of the street and did a real
    number on it.  It was in the shop for months - due to legal hassles (I 
    couldn't drive for a few months anyway - it was in it when it was hit)
    and some cowboy did a number on the clutch.  It was never the same
    after that.
    
    Next car I decided it was time for a change.  I got a '75 Vovlo (top of
    the line).  It was OK for ~ 3 yrs - but then it started to have
    problems.  It cost almost as much to keep it runninig the last 2 years
    as I paid for it.
    
    While I had the Volvo, I acquired a husband and we aquired a '78
    Porsche.  Boy we loved that car.  We never drove it in the winter.
    Taking it for its first spring drive was always a blast.  It NEVER gave
    us any trouble.  IT was a great road car.  IT was the only car I was
    comfortable in when I was pregnant.  Our mechanic put a child car seat
    in it and our daughter loved it also.  Her first complete gramatically
    correct sentence was "Daddy can I drive the silver car?"  All good
    things must come to an end - and the poor silver car met its end on 93. 
    A bufoon weaving and out of traffic at high speeds ran over the front
    of it and in the ensueing wild ride itr bounced off the guard rail in
    the median strip several times.  My husband says the spinning out at
    high speed with cars coming at you no matter which way you look really
    gets the adrenalin going.  The seat belts really worked well - my
    husband walked away from it.
    
    We have a '79 Rabbit which was the Porsche's winter alter ego.  We also
    have a '87 mini-van.  This is our second mini-van.  I blew up the
    engine on the first.  I figured it was a fluke - so I got another.  But
    I had to replace the head gasket early on.  I've heard this is a common
    problem. I doubt I'll get another.  As to women generally driving the
    family-mobiles and being slow drivers - don't bet on it - and if you
    see me coming - stay out of my way.  As they say - it ain't the meat,
    it's the motion.
    
    

>        re .27 Corollary - ...

Would that be a Toyota Corollary?

    infamous cars from my past:
    
    "The Rustang": a 1965 you-know-what, in advanced stage of body-rot,
    purchased for $125.00, ran for years while I was a student. A great
    car, fun to drive, until the leaf springs came through the
    trunk floor, and the floor fell out on the driver's side. Hauled
    away for unpaid parking tickets.
    
    "Nashty": a 1941 Nash, looked like a cartoon version of streamline,
    wide whitewalls, giant tube radio with great sound, drove it until
    it threw a piston.
    
    "The Nun_mobile": 1977 Plymouth Volare station wagon, black, so
    christened by a friend who thought it was the kind of car that nuns
    would drive. It had a 318 v-8 and could haul.
    
    -roger
    

    My grandmother's most/least favorite car was a black 1939 Packard
    that she called either "The Hearse" or "The Lumber Wagon,"
    depending on whether she was more offended by its appearance or by
    how big and hard to steer it was.
    
    --bonnie

    I like my toy auto silly car (Toyota Celica) :-)
    
    And I think CRXen are cute,  I call them Japaneese Beetles :-)
        
    Mary
    

    The Beast, my first car was a 1965 Buick Gran Sport. It was one of the
    last of the 401 cubic inchers. Loved that car. I was stopped doing 125
    in a 60 zone. The officer had a brand new 1972 Chrysler 440 Police
    Interceptor. Nothing was supposed to be able to touch them. He told me
    that if I hadn't slowed down to get off the turnpike, he never would
    have caught me. I was impressed with my car. Even more when I went from
    Rt 62 in Burlington Mass. to Baboosic Lake Road in Merrimack, N.H. in
    20 minutes one Saturday. THis is a distance of about 30 miles and not
    all highway. At least 5 miles was regular road. All I know is I left
    burlington at 10:30 in the AM and had to be at the Catholic church in
    Merrimack by 11:00. I still had 10 minutes left when I got out of the
    car. This car and I could do no wrong. I came close to becoming a
    grease spot on the road so many times, but this car wouldn't let me. It
    was a big old boat anchor. I loved the power. Muscle Car yeah.
    Burlington Vt. to Concord NH. in 1.25 hours. Nasua to the Coast in 15
    minutes. 
    
    Phil, who remembers being young and stupid, but still remembers feeling
    the NNNEEEEEDDDDD   FFFFOOOOORRRR    SSSSPPPPEEEEDDDDDD.
    
    

    G'Day,
    
    	I've had a couple of bombs and about 4 years ago I was hassling my
    manager about getting me a company car.  We investigated job changes
    etc but had no luck.  I eventually went out and bought a Fiat X19.  Now
    that is a great car.  For those that don't know it is a two seater,
    mid-engined, targa-topped fun machine.  They're not the fastest machine
    on four (two sometimes :-) ) wheels but they handle exceptionally well
    because of the mid mounted engine.  Anyway, wouldn't you know it, two
    years later my job changes slightly so I qualified for a company car! 
    I toyed with the idea of keeping the Fiat but simple economics said sell
    it.  The day I gave over the keys of my Fiat to the new owner was one
    of the saddest days of my life.
    
    	My company car is a Ford Telstar (aka Mazda 626) hatchback which is
    a good car but it doesn't even come close to the Fiat in the 'fun in
    the sun' stakes.
    
    David.
    

    i drive my trusty decwreck, a black '90 taurus. it has a 3 liter v6 and
    a carrying capacity of 4 dykes. the first car i ever drove on a
    more-or-less exclusive basis was a '65 vauxhall. not exactly suited for
    freeway driving (unlike the taurus - ZOOM!), but amazing gas mileage
    from its 1 liter sewing machine-cum-engine. my mom and dad still have a
    '78 toyota celica liftback that i wouldn't mind having, but my real
    dream car would be an early ferrari dino - remember the sexy little v6
    jobs from the mid-70s?
    
    crxen are neat, but i don't fit in them very well. too bad...perhaps
    i'd compromise on a taurus sho. or maybe something german. hmmm...
    
    ...laura

I must be getting old, but I think I've finally acquired my dream machine, and
it surprises me.  About three months ago, we bought a '91 GMC Safari van/wagon
with the "grand touring options".  This beast has automatic transmission, 
cruise control, various eletrical gadgets, traditional (analog) instrumentation
and seats more people than I know!  It's great for towing the camper, dragging
theatre stuff around, dragging TV/Film stuff around, long journeys, short
journeys, taking our son and his friends on Cub Scount outings, lunch outings 
at work, erc etc etc.  Literally, this is the first vehicle that I have owned 
(well, co-own with GMAC at the moment!!) that I can find nothing wrong with. 
Most every other car that I have owned has had something that I said "well, the
NEXT car that I own will have <mumble>" about it!

					Middle aged
					   Nigel

I should mention...one of the main reasons I decided to go for practical
(sedan) rather than lust (CRX) is because I already own one lust-object
vehicle - my motorcycle.  Really, I would like a car that is speedy and
handles like a sports car - but no car I could possibly actually own could
have better acceleration or feel than a *motorcycle*.  So I already have one
impractical but fun two-seater...and a practical five-seater for good
measure.

D!

[But then there are people like Nancy who have a two-wheeled toy *and* a
four-wheeled toy.]

    
    I haven't read all the replies in detail, but I will *never*
    understand this naming of cars.  They are just machines, after all.
    It seems so stupid and silly to me.  They really don't have
    personalities...well, at least *I'm* not that superstitious.
    (Rathole: Remember Stephen King's _Christine_?  I did like that movie,
    however.)
    
    And at the risk of further offending, ;-), I'll say that I can't
    stand the Californian (LAish) overly and exaggerated materialistic
    attitude toward cars.  Like they're something to die for...really?
    Shades of the self-satisfied, smug, gas-guzzling American culture.
    That's not my style.
    
    So I drive a Mazda 323 - good basic transportation with good gas 
    mileage...good for commuting and getting around.  Tell me what else
    I need from a car?
    

    My mother, who used to always drive Fords but now owns a Chyrsler, used
    to name all the Fords "Betsy", but I don't know why.
    
    I don't like ANY cars.  When my old Chevy blew its engine just over a
    year ago, I spent way too much time trying to find a reasonable used
    car as a replacement.  I wanted a small, front-wheel-drive, four-door
    car, automatic transmission (I have a bit of arthritis in my hips so I
    can't always comfortably manage a clutch), and enough trunk or covered
    hatch space for the stuff I usually haul - without spending a FORTUNE. 
    I would have preferred a used Toyota or Chevy Nova (same car with
    different nameplate for the years I was looking at) since I prefer a
    hatchback, but eventually bought a VW.  It's a CAR, what can I say?
    
    There is a guy in my group who LOVES cars, a real "gear-head", who
    spends all his free time lovingly rebuilding, polishing, and driving
    his precious cars - real strange stuff!
    
    /Charlotte

    Charlotte,
    
    >>There is a guy in my group who LOVES cars, a real "gear-head", who
    >>spends all his free time lovingly rebuilding, polishing, and driving
    >>his precious cars - real strange stuff!
    
    My car is named 1975 MGB and is still for sale.  You think this
    'gear-head' would be interested in buying it? ;-)
    

    
    I can't really get into naming my cars either.
    
    I was fond of the first car I ever really owned, a green VW bug.  I
    bought it for $400 without an engine, got a rebuilt engine for $200,
    and 4 old porsche wheels with decent tires on 'em for another $200.
    Friends helped me put the car together and taught me how to maintain
    it.  The fenders and the trunk were all dinged up so I eventually 
    brought it to a body shop where they replaced the fenders and trunk 
    lid and painted it metallic green.  I couldn't afford new bumpers 
    (or trim) when they were finished so a friend helped me to make 
    "temporary" wooden bumpers out of 4"x4" (6"x6") pine.  They looked 
    so good I never tried to find chrome ones.  The day before I left 
    Tacoma, WA, and about a week or two after I'd gotten the car out of 
    the body shop a big truck backed into me and crunched my trunk lid.
    
    I hitched my bug behind my friend's UHaul and we set out from
    Washington heading east; he to Tennessee, and me, ultimately, to
    Massachusetts.   Somewhere in (I think it was) Wyoming I picked up 
    a huge tumbleweed and put it in the backseat.
    
    The heater worked pretty well when I first got it but after almost 10
    years of faithful service, the heater boxes were rusting out and I used 
    to keep a blanket in there in the winter; due to a slight accident (a
    friend borrowed the car) the trunk lid didn't close tightly and I used
    to get quite a good draft through the fuse box right onto my knees. 
    Needless to say, the defroster didn't work either and I tried to keep
    well-stocked with de-icer.  I just didn't drive if the weather was
    freezing rain or sleet.
    
    But, darn, I loved that car.  It had personality, character.  I only
    got stuck in the snow once, and one time I even pushed a Chevy that had
    gotten stuck.  (They laughed when I offered to help...)  It had over 
    200,000 miles when I sold it to get something with more comfort and 
    I feel no attachment for this car at all (Toyota Tercel, 1983).  When I 
    first got it I couldn't believe how comfortable it was nor how FAST I 
    could go! :-)  But it's no fun and I know I'll get another bug someday.
    
    CQ 

    RE: -1
    
    My first car was a bug also, a super beetle and it was 13 years old.
    Yah, it had character too and believe it or not the heater actually
    worked :-) I had it when I was in college. I used to throw all kinds of
    junk in the backseat: computer printouts, books, notebooks, old socks,
    clothes, trash from fast-food places etc. I never really knew what
    color the backseat was cuz it was always buried in junk. One time when
    I cleaned out the backseat I found a banana peel buried underneath all
    the junk in the back.  It had been there a while :-) like weeks.
    
    About a year after I had it it won't start in the rain. So any time it
    was raining I knew I was in trouble.
    
    Hahahahah...I was thinking about one snow storm we had. The house my
    family used to live in had a steep driveway. My father was having
    trouble getting all the cars up the driveway but when it came time for
    my little bug, no problem. It zipped right up the driveway and didn't
    get stuck once. :-)
    
    Then I bought my subaru in '85 and I've had it ever since.
    
    Laurie

    
    I never did understand car-directed athropomorphism..

    I am not sure if this qualifies as anthropomorphic, but I refer to my
    trusty old diesel rabbit as der disesl (of course it probably is das
    diesel....) and want it to have personalized plates (which I am sure
    are taken in vanity-plate-California)
    
    	PETRA. 
    
    
    feminine form of Peter (in at least one language!)

    
    
    
    ...actually, I could live with an Eagle Talon.  No, really!  I could. 
    
    
    
    E Grace

    
    My first car was an '85 Honda Civic - I called it "Baby", partially
    because it looked like a baby and also because it was my first car (and
    I was able to buy it cash down).  I drove it out to college in Chicago
    (from Boston), drove it all over the state of Illinois, and drove it
    home this past summer when I moved back home.  I loved that car! 
    However, as happy as I was with it, I kept dreaming of a faster,
    sleeker, more expensive sports car.  Let's face it - ya just don't get
    checked out as much driving in a Honda Civic as you do in a sports car.
    
    Well, six weeks ago, I let my baby go.  It was a hard decision.  I
    bought a beautiful Mitsubishi Eclipse DOHC T  (same car as an Eagle
    Talon).  I will be in debt forever - but I am very happy that I made
    one of my dreams come true.
    
    
    Nancy